Sand-box ventilator.



C. F. MATHER.

SAND BOX VENTILATOR.

APPLICATION FILEDAuaJs. 191s.

1 ,299,495. v 1 Patented Apr. 8,1919.

` lwuewtoz woz/"m CHAItLES F. lVIA'lI-IER, 0F ERIE, PENNSYIfiTAlI'IA.V

SAND-BOX VENTILATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, atented Apr. 8, 1919.

4 Application led August 16, 1918. Serial N o. 250,261.

T0 all wkomc't 'may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MATHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sand-Box Ventilators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sand box ventilators, the object in view being to provide simple, reliable and effective means for maintaining the sand supply of a locomotive in a dry condition, so that it may be withdrawn or discharged from the sand box upon the rails whenever required.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of the sand.

box or dome of a locomotive showing the ventilator in its applied relation thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the ventilator as applied to the dome.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the ventilator.

With the sand box or dome at present in use on locomotives, it is a difficult matter to keep the sand in a dry condition especially when the sand box or dome is being lilled at the supply base during a rain storm. The wet sand delivered into the sand box or dome causes an accumulation or condensation of water in the upper part of the dome or box and said water trickles down the interior walls thereof, wetting the sand and preventing flow thereof from the discharge orifice when required.

In order to overcome the ditliculty above stated, I have devised what may be termed an air siphon device for drying the 'air within the sand box or dome keeping the same vin a dry` condition and insuring the free iiow of the sand therefrom when required.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the sand box, or sand dome of a locomotive, and 2 the serviceor discharge pipe leading 0E therefrom. In carrying out the present invention, I apply to the top of the box or dome 1 anV upstanding suction conduit 3 which may be either fastened permanently to the sand box 1 or detachably threaded therein, as indicated in Fig. 2. Extending transversely of the top of the suction conduit 3' and preferably in a generally horizontal direction, is an outlet nozzle 4 which is shown as forming a part of or being attached to a T-tting 5, said fitting forming practically a. part of the nozzle member in communication with the suction conduit 8.

Threaded into the receiving end of the outlet nozzle is an inlet nozzle 6 having a central bore 7 extending longitudinally therethrough and also provided with a funnel shaped entrance or throat 8 which leads to the bore 6. The inwardly contracting funnel shaped mouth or entrance 8 serves to increase the velocity of the air passing through the bore 7 and the discharge end of the inlet nozzle overhangs crosses and extends beyond the upper end of the suction conduit 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thereby preventing any rain or water from falling through said suction conduit.

The device is mounted upon the sand box or dome of a locomotive with the funnel shaped entrance 8 fastened forwardly or in the direction that the locomotive is ordinarily traveling. 1KWhen, therefore, the locomotive is in motion, a current of air passes through the inlet nozzle 6 to a point beyond the upper extremity of the suction conduit 3 and as said air emerges from the discharge end of the inlet nozzle, it induces a flow of air upwardly from the upper part of the sand box or dome 1 through the suction conduit 3, the air being carried out through the discharge end of the outlet nozzle 4:, which discharge end is curved or deflected downwardly to prevent ingress of water. The inlet nozzle has a threaded and adjustable connection at 9 with the fitting 5 which as stated forms a part of the outlet nozzle and such threaded connection enables the inlet nozzle to be adjusted relatively to the suction conduit 3, so that greater or less overhanging of the discharge end of the inlet nozzle in relation to the upper end of the suction conduit may be obtained, the adjustment being made so as to admit of a free flow of air through the device without admitting water through the suction conduit 3 and consequently to the 'interior of the sand box or dome. l

A set screw 10 enables the nozzle 6 to be held fixed when adjusted.

1. The combination with the sand dome of a locomotive. of an upstandng suction conduit rising `from `the top thereof, an air outlet nozzle at the top of said conduit and at an angle thereto, andan air inlet nozzle of smaller diameter extending into the receiving end of said outlet nozzle and across and beyond the upper end of said suction conduit.

2. The combination with the sand dome of a locomotive,` of an upstanding suction conduit rising from the top thereof,f an air. outlet nozzle at the top of ysaid 'conduit landy at an angle" thereto, andan air inlet lnozzle of'smaller diameter extending into the receiving' end offsaid Fou'tlet nozzle and across and beyond the upper end of said 'suction conduit,- said inlet nozzle being adjust-able to give greater or less overhang thereof in relation to the suction Conduit. Y

Intestimony whereof I aiiX my signature;

CHARLES FVMATHER.

lUopies of this'patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the. Commissioner of Batents.

, Washington, D. 0;" 

